Steam

[AnrDaemon]

When a large empire wipes out everyone else, to level the playing field themselves as you say, history has taught us that most of those people just quit and we're left with a big empire in control of everything. In a reset, everyone is starting from square one.

You have twelve galaxies to play with. No single large empire can take control over all of them.

You do not play WoW, do you?

I do play WoW. Do you know how do you start WoW today? You create a level 110 new character and happily steamroll to 120. Oblivious to any content outside Stormwind/Orgrimmar/Zandalar/Kul Tiras.
You don't, obviously. Else you would know.

I did play Eve in the past, and Eve players do have relatively little effect on the world compared to players in Shores of Hazeron.

Then you are out of touch with both games you mention.
Citadels are in and outposts are out. POS'es are scheduled to complitely retire soon™.
Try again? Name a game you actually know.